Aerial imagery: USGS National Map (public domain)
Willard Notch — Gaps 29.7 Miles W of Chapman Inn
Coos County, New Hampshire · USGS Jefferson Quadrangle · GNIS 870906
29.7 miles west of Chapman Inn, on the USGS Jefferson topographic quadrangle, Willard Notch is a mountain gap recorded in Coos County, New Hampshire by the federal Geographic Names Information System.
Landmark Profile
Classification & USGS reference
The USGS Jefferson 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle places Willard Notch in Coos County, New Hampshire (FIPS 33/007), classified as a mountain gap in the federal GNIS (Feature ID 870906). Catalogued in GNIS since 08/27/1980.
Coordinates & physical setting
Willard Notch sits at 44.47339° N, 71.38397° W (DMS 44°28′24″ N, 71°23′02″ W).
Other gaps in Coos County, New Hampshire
Coos County, NH contains 20 gaps catalogued in the USGS Geographic Names Information System, counting Willard Notch itself. The ones closest to Willard Notch:
| Feature | USGS Quadrangle | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Bunnell Notch | Jefferson | 1.9 mi |
| Hunters Pass | Mount Crescent | 6.1 mi |
| Carlton Notch | Mount Crescent | 6.3 mi |
| Edmands Col | Mount Washington | 11.7 mi |
| Jefferson Notch | Mount Washington | 12.3 mi |
| Trident Pass | Berlin | 12.4 mi |
| Pinkham Notch | Mount Washington | 16.2 mi |
| Zeta Pass | Carter Dome | 16.9 mi |
| Carter Notch | Carter Dome | 17.3 mi |
| Moriah George | Wild River | 18.6 mi |
Features on the USGS Jefferson Quadrangle
The Jefferson 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle holds 20 catalogued natural features alongside Willard Notch. A sampling nearest to this location:
| Feature | Type | County | Offset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terrace Mountain | Summits | Coos County, NH | 0.6 mi |
| Mount Weeks | Summits | Coos County, NH | 0.8 mi |
| Bunnell Notch | Gaps | Coos County, NH | 1.9 mi |
| Great Brook | Streams | Coos County, NH | 2.2 mi |
| Webster Brook | Streams | Coos County, NH | 3 mi |
| Mount Waumbek | Summits | Coos County, NH | 3.2 mi |
| Pliny Range | Ranges | Coos County, NH | 3.3 mi |
| Haystack Mountain | Summits | Coos County, NH | 3.3 mi |
| Mount Starr King | Summits | Coos County, NH | 3.6 mi |
| Pliny Mountain | Summits | Coos County, NH | 3.9 mi |
Visiting from Chapman Inn
Distance, bearing & drive time
Chapman Inn sits 29.7 miles west (bearing W) of Willard Notch. At moderate back-road speeds the drive runs about 51 minutes — comfortably inside a half-day outing window after breakfast.
Best time to visit
Late May through October; avoid black-fly peak in late May. Being this far north (lat 44.473°), first snows typically arrive by mid-October and linger into early May — narrow the window accordingly. At 29.7 miles from the Inn, block the full day — sunrise start, late return, packed meals. Conditions at Willard Notch track the nearby Terrace Mountain summit (0.6 mi away) closely — if that is runnable, so is this.
Nearest features to Willard Notch
| Feature | Type | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terrace Mountain | Summits | Coos County, NH | 0.6 mi |
| Mount Weeks | Summits | Coos County, NH | 0.8 mi |
| Bunnell Notch | Gaps | Coos County, NH | 1.9 mi |
| Great Brook | Streams | Coos County, NH | 2.2 mi |
| Spring Brook | Streams | Coos County, NH | 2.3 mi |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Willard Notch located?
Willard Notch is in Coos County, New Hampshire, approximately 29.7 miles west of Chapman Inn in Bethel, Maine. It appears on the USGS Jefferson topographic quadrangle.
How far is Willard Notch from Chapman Inn?
The drive runs about 51 minutes, 29.7 miles west (bearing W) of the Inn.
What type of natural feature is Willard Notch?
The U.S. Geological Survey classifies Willard Notch as a mountain gap, catalogued under GNIS Feature ID 870906 on the Jefferson quadrangle.
When is the best time to visit Willard Notch?
Late May through October; avoid black-fly peak in late May.
How many other gaps are in Coos County, New Hampshire?
GNIS lists 19 other gaps in Coos County, New Hampshire.